Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, left, defends as Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) goes up for a shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Sims lead all scoring with 20-points in the 66-55 Baylor loss.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, left, defends as Baylor's Odyssey...

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Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, left, fights her way to a shot opportunity against Baylor's Imani Wright (20) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, left, fights her way to a shot...

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Connecticut's Bria Hartley, left, defends against a drive by Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Sims had a game-high 20-points in the 66-55 Baylor loss.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut's Bria Hartley, left, defends against a drive by...

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Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey instructs her team on defense during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey instructs her team on defense during...

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Connecticut center Stefanie Dolson (31) goes up for a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) and Saniya Chong, center, compete for a rebound against Baylor's Kristina Higgins (44) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) and Saniya Chong, center,...

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Baylor center Khadijiah Cave, left, and guard Makenzie Robertson (14) attempt to stop a drive to the basket by Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor center Khadijiah Cave, left, and guard Makenzie Robertson...

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Connecticut guard Moriah Jefferson (4) goes up for a shot surrounded by Baylor's Khadijiah Cave (55), Kristina Higgins (44) and Odyssey Sims (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut guard Moriah Jefferson (4) goes up for a shot...

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Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) attempts to cut off a drive around the perimeter by Connecticut's Bria Hartley (14) in the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) attempts to cut off a drive around the...

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Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) loses the ball trying to get around Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) loses the ball trying to get around...

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Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey throws her hands up after her team was charged with a foul in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey throws her hands up after her team was...

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma instructs the defense as the bench cheers late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma instructs the defense as the...

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Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart (30) moves around Baylor's Sune Agbuke, left, for a shot opportunity in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Stewart lead her team in scoring with 18-points, in the 66-55 win over Baylor.

Baylor's Nina Davis (13) comes down with an offensive rebound in front of Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Davis collected 17 rebounds in the 66-55 Baylor loss.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor's Nina Davis (13) comes down with an offensive rebound in...

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Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey motivates her team after a score late in the second half during an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55 at Baylor, ending the Lady Bears' national-best 69-game home winning streak Monday night.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey motivates her team after a score late...

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Baylor's Makenzie Robertson (14) attempts a three-point basket in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor's Makenzie Robertson (14) attempts a three-point basket in...

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The Baylor mascot "Bruiser" motivates the crowd during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

The Baylor mascot "Bruiser" motivates the crowd during the second...

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Baylor's Makenzie Robertson (14) comes away with a rebound as Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) watches in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor's Makenzie Robertson (14) comes away with a rebound as...

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Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) looks to make a pass as Baylor's Sune Agbuke (22) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) looks to make a pass as Baylor's...

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Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey looks upward in frustration after her team was charged with a foul in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey looks upward in frustration after her...

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Baylor's Nina Davis (13) handles the ball around the perimeter as Connecticut center Stefanie Dolson, rear, defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Baylor's Nina Davis (13) handles the ball around the perimeter as...

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Baylor Bears' Odyssey Sims (0) applauds after Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) was charged with a foul in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in Waco, Texas. Connecticut won 66-55.

WACO, Texas -- One of the biggest questions this season was if the UConn women would ever be tested. The top-ranked Huskies had rolled over their first 17 opponents by a nation's-best average of 38.2 points. They had defeated three Top 10 teams, including Maryland and Duke on the road, and five ranked teams overall.

It was getting to the point where it seemed as if there was not a team in the country that could stand up to UConn and actually have a chance of beating the Huskies. Baylor did not care what had happened prior to Tuesday's game at the Ferrell Center.

The Lady Bears were determined to prove themselves, which they did. And, in the end, the Huskies proved themselves as well. UConn finished the game with a 10-2 run over the final 5:12 to seize a gritty 66-55 win before a raucous crowd of 9,145.

"I'm very pleased,'' UConn senior guard Bria Hartley said. "I think we definitely needed a game like this to kind of test us of when a lot of things weren't going our way. ... I think we responded really well. We got the rebounds when we were supposed to. We made shots when we were supposed to. I'm just proud of my team and how we finished the game.''

The Huskies, who shot a season-low 36.7 percent from the field, never led by more than 11 points. Their lead was 50-49 with 10:53 remaining. It was 56-53 with 5:12 remaining. They never did fall behind.

UConn struggled to execute offensively for long stretches. Yet, when it mattered most, the execution was there. Stefanie Dolson made two free throws with 3:51 left after being fouled on a layup attempt. Moriah Jefferson found Breanna Stewart for a layup 46 seconds later. Hartley later found Dolson for a layup with 1:49 left to stake the Huskies to a 62-53 lead.

Jefferson and Hartley each made one free throw before Hartley capped the scoring with a layup. UConn remained unbeaten. Baylor's team-record 69-game winning streak at home had been shattered.

"You don't win 69 games at home like Baylor has without having a tremendous will to win,'' UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "That's what they do. It was going to be whether or not we could make timely plays. That was the key. Making any kind of play was hard. But there were a couple plays that stand out. We were timely.''

Key players such as Dolson, Hartley, Stewart and Jefferson stepped up late for the Huskies. Auriemma said that Dolson, Hartley and Jefferson were the most vocal in the huddle late in the game.

But the contribution of Kiah Stokes cannot be overlooked.

She proved herself, too, generating two blocks and an offensive rebound in the final 3:35.

"Kiah Stokes was right on target with everything we needed her to do,'' Auriemma said.

This had been the type of game the Huskies had been eyeing for some time. Auriemma puts them in difficult situations in practice, such as when they have to make a certain number of passes before they can shoot. It tests their concentration level, their resiliency and their ability to execute.